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{{Short description|Italian cartoon (1971-86)}}
{{Infobox television
{{Infobox television
| name = La Linea
| image = La linea .jpg
| image = La linea .jpg
| caption = La Linea
| caption = La Linea
| genre = [[Animation]], [[Comedy]]
| genre = [[Animation]], [[Comedy]], [[Cartoon series]]
| creator = [[Osvaldo Cavandoli]] (Cava)
| creator = [[Osvaldo Cavandoli]] (Cava)
| developer =
| developer =
| writer =
| writer =
| director =
| director =
Line 14: Line 14:
| voices = [[Carlo Bonomi]] (all voices)
| voices = [[Carlo Bonomi]] (all voices)
| narrated =
| narrated =
| theme_music_composer
| theme_music_composer = [[Franco Godi]]
= [[Franco Godi]]
| opentheme =
| opentheme =
| endtheme =
| endtheme =
| composer =
| composer =
| country = Italy
| country = Italy
| language = [[Grammelot]]
| language = [[Grammelot]] (gibberish)
| num_seasons = 3
| num_seasons = 3
| num_episodes = 90
| num_episodes = 90
Line 31: Line 30:
| camera =
| camera =
| runtime = 2-6 minutes
| runtime = 2-6 minutes
| company = B. Del Vita (season 1)<br>HDH Film/TV (season 2)
| company = B. Del Vita (season 1)<br/>HDH Film/TV (season 2)<br>Telecip-Belokapi (season 2)<br>Wagner-Hallig Film GmbH (seasons 2-3)<br>Quipos srl (season 3)
| distributor = QUIPOS
| channel = [[RAI]]
| channel = [[RAI]]
| picture_format =
| audio_format =
| first_run =
| first_aired = {{start date|1971}}
| first_aired = {{start date|1971}}
| last_aired = {{end date|1986}}
| last_aired = {{end date|1986}}
| preceded_by =
| related = ''[[Carosello]]''
| followed_by =
| related = ''[[Carosello]]''
| website = http://www.quipos.net/en/famous-characters/la-linea/
| production_website =
}}
}}
'''''La Linea''''' ("The Line") is an [[Italy|Italian]] [[animated series]] created by the Italian [[cartoonist]] [[Osvaldo Cavandoli]]. The series consists of 90 episodes, which were originally broadcast on the Italian channel [[RAI]] between 1971 and 1986. The background tune for the series was created by [[Franco Godi]].<ref name= desmomelo>{{cite web|url=http://www.webalice.it/robertomelai/linea.htm|title=La Linea del grande Osvaldo Cavandoli|website=Webalice |language=Italian}}</ref>
'''''La Linea''''' ("The Line") is an Italian [[animated series]] created by the Italian [[cartoonist]] [[Osvaldo Cavandoli]]. The series consists of 90 episodes, which were originally broadcast on the Italian channel [[RAI]] between 1971 and 1986. The background tune for the series was created by [[Franco Godi]].<ref name= desmomelo>{{cite web|url=http://www.webalice.it/robertomelai/linea.htm|title=La Linea del grande Osvaldo Cavandoli|website=Webalice |language=Italian}}</ref>


The series features a man known as "Mr. Linea" (voiced by [[Carlo Bonomi]] in a [[grammelot]] similar to the [[Milanese dialect]]) drawn as a single outline of an infinite line, which encounters various obstacles during his walking, and often turns to the cartoonist, represented as a live-action hand holding a pencil, to draw him a solution. All episodes are short subjects, ranging from 2:30 to 6:40 in runtime.<ref name= desmomelo/>
The series features a man known as "Mr. Linea" (voiced by [[Carlo Bonomi]] in a [[grammelot]] similar to the [[Milanese dialect]]) drawn as a single outline of an infinite line, which encounters various obstacles during his walking, and often turns to the cartoonist, represented as a live-action hand holding a pencil, to draw him a solution. All episodes are short subjects, ranging from 2:30 to 6:40 in runtime.<ref name= desmomelo/>


The series aired in more than 50 countries around the world;<ref name=Licensing>{{cite web |url=https://www.licensingitalia.it/licenza/la-linea/ |title=La Linea |website=Licensing Italia |language=Italian}}</ref> due to the short length of episodes, it have often been used in many networks as an [[interstitial program]], including in the United States. Over the years, ''La Linea'' gained a widespread popularity worldwide,<ref name= desmomelo/><ref name=Licensing/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.openculture.com/2015/04/la-linea.html |title=Watch La Linea, the Popular 1970s Italian Animations Drawn with a Single Line |date=10 April 2015 |website=Open Culture.com}}</ref> and it is considered to be a [[cult classic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.repubblica.it/2007/11/sezioni/spettacoli_e_cultura/linea-cavandoli/linea-cavandoli/linea-cavandoli.html |title= La Linea di Osvaldo Cavandoli simbolo dell'Italia del boom |author=Michele Serra |website=[[La Repubblica]] |language = Italian}}</ref> It also spawned a comic strip, books, additional short movies, merchandising gadgets and objects, and countless homages and parodies, with many appearances of the protagonist in other media.<ref name=Licensing/>
The series aired in more than 50 countries around the world;<ref name=Licensing>{{cite web |url=https://www.licensingitalia.it/licenza/la-linea/ |title=La Linea |website=Licensing Italia |language=Italian}}</ref> due to the short length of episodes, it has often been used in many networks as an [[interstitial program]], including in the United States. Over the years, ''La Linea'' gained a widespread popularity worldwide,<ref name= desmomelo/><ref name=Licensing/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.openculture.com/2015/04/la-linea.html |title=Watch La Linea, the Popular 1970s Italian Animations Drawn with a Single Line |date=10 April 2015 |website=Open Culture.com}}</ref> and it is considered to be a [[cult classic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.repubblica.it/2007/11/sezioni/spettacoli_e_cultura/linea-cavandoli/linea-cavandoli/linea-cavandoli.html |title= La Linea di Osvaldo Cavandoli simbolo dell'Italia del boom |author=Michele Serra |website=[[La Repubblica]] |language = Italian}}</ref> It also spawned a comic strip, books, additional short movies, merchandising gadgets and objects, and countless homages and parodies, with many appearances of the protagonist in other media.<ref name=Licensing/>


Even though the episodes are numbered up to 225, there are actually 90 ''La Linea'' episodes. The 1971 series had 8 (4 min) episodes, the 1978 series had 56 (101-156), and the 1986 series had 26 (200-225). All episodes of the series are also available today on DVD.
Even though the episodes are numbered up to 225, there are actually 90 ''La Linea'' episodes. The 1971 series had 8 episodes, the 1978 series had 56 (101–156), and the 1986 series had 26 (200–225). All episodes of the series are also available on DVD.


== Synopsis ==
== Synopsis ==
Line 67: Line 58:


==International broadcast==
==International broadcast==
[[File:Streken la linea foto brage aronsen.jpg|thumb|''La Linea'' graffiti on a [[feeder pillar]] in Oslo, Norway (June 2012)]]

From 1972 on ''La Linea'' was shown on numerous TV stations in Europe as well as in cinema, mostly as interstitial between commercials. ''La Linea'' was shown in more than 50 countries over the world. The series won prizes 1972 in [[Annecy]] and 1973 in [[Zagreb]].
From 1972 on ''La Linea'' was shown on numerous TV stations in Europe as well as in cinema, mostly as interstitial between commercials. ''La Linea'' was shown in more than 50 countries over the world. The series won prizes 1972 in [[Annecy]] and 1973 in [[Zagreb]].


* In the United States, the cartoons were featured on the children's TV series ''[[The Great Space Coaster]]'', although ''La Linea'' was given different names by the show's characters before the cartoon was played. Not all ''La Linea'' cartoons were featured on this show, as some had a mature theme and were therefore considered inappropriate for children.
* In the United States, the ''La Linea'' cartoons were first shown as part of [[KQED Inc.|KQED]]'s International Animation Festival in the 1970s, and later featured on the children's TV series ''[[The Great Space Coaster]]'', although ''La Linea'' was given different names by the show's characters before the cartoon was played. Not all ''La Linea'' cartoons were featured on the show, as some had a mature theme and were therefore considered inappropriate for children.
* In Iran, ''La Linea'' was aired on ''Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting'' ([[Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting|IRIB]])
* It was also featured as part of [[KQED Inc.|KQED]]'s International Animation Festival in the 1970s
* In United Kingdom, ''La Linea'' was aired on [[BBC Two]] occasionally from 1980 to 1981, and on [[ITV Central|Central]] in 1988.
* La Linea was also featured on [[Nickelodeon]] during ''[[Pinwheel (TV series)|Pinwheel]]'' as one of their animated shorts.
* In United Kingdom, ''La Linea'' was aired on [[ITV (TV channel)|ITV]] Called [[CITV]] from 1983 to 2003, and later on [[ITVBe]] and [[Channel 4]].
* In Canada, the ''La Linea'' cartoons aired on [[Radio-Canada]], {{ill|TVJQ|fr}} and [[TVOntario|TVO]].
⚫
* In South Africa, it was aired on [[SABC]]-TV during the late-1970s and early-1980s as a filler. SABC-TV carried no advertising during shows at the time, and needed to fill gaps, for example before top-of-the-hour news broadcasts.
* In Canada, the ''La Linea'' cartoons aired on [[Radio-Canada]] and [[TVOntario|TVO]].
⚫
* In Australia, ''La Linea'' was aired on [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] as a filler between longer programmes.
⚫
* In South Africa it was aired on [[SABC]]-TV during the late 1970s and early 1980s as a filler. SABC-TV carried no advertising during shows at the time, and needed to fill gaps, for example before top-of-the-hour news broadcasts.
* In the Netherlands, ''La Linea'' was aired on [[VPRO]] in 1978, 1985 and 1988.
⚫
* It was screened by the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] in Australia as a filler between longer programmes.
* In Sweden, ''La Linea'' aired on [[Sveriges Television|SVT]] as a filler from the 1970s until the 1990s, and then again as filler on [[TV4 Guld]] and [[TV4 Komedi]] from 2006 until 2011.
* From June 30, 2008 until October 31 the same year, [[Norway|Norwegian]] newspaper ''[[Dagbladet]]'' published all episodes of ''La Linea''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dagbladet.no/streken |title=Streken |work=[[Dagbladet.no]] |access-date=2011-03-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605030824/http://www.dagbladet.no/streken/ |archive-date=2011-06-05 }}</ref> as daily episodes on its website (''La Linea'' 1–8, 101–156, 200–225).
* In Norway, ''La Linea'' aired on [[NRK]] as a filler from the mid-1970s until the late-1980s.<ref>https://www.abcnyheter.no/nyheter/2006/03/21/34601/husker-du-streken</ref> From 30 June until 31 October 2008, [[Norway|Norwegian]] newspaper ''[[Dagbladet]]'' published all episodes of ''La Linea''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dagbladet.no/streken |title=Streken |work=[[Dagbladet.no]] |access-date=2011-03-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605030824/http://www.dagbladet.no/streken/ |archive-date=2011-06-05 }}</ref> as daily episodes on its website (''La Linea'' 1–8, 101–156, 200–225).
* In Hungary, ''La Linea'' was first aired on [[M1 (TV channel)|MTV1]] on Szombat Esti Filmkoktél (Saturday Night Film Cocktail) from 1981 until the 1990s, and later on [[M2 (TV channel)|MTV2]] as an interstitial program.


===DVD releases===
===DVD releases===
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== Popular culture ==
== Popular culture ==
* The music videos for Italian DJ [[Gigi D'Agostino]]'s 1999 hit song "[[Bla Bla Bla]]" as well as his cover of [[Nik Kershaw]]'s song "[[The Riddle (Nik Kershaw song)|The Riddle]]" are animated in the style of ''La Linea''.
* The music videos for Italian DJ [[Gigi D'Agostino]]'s 1999 hit song "[[Bla Bla Bla (Gigi D'Agostino song)|Bla Bla Bla]]" as well as his cover of [[Nik Kershaw]]'s song "[[The Riddle (Nik Kershaw song)|The Riddle]]" are animated in the style of ''La Linea''.
* The opening of the UK TV series ''[[Whose Line Is It Anyway? (British TV series)|Whose Line Is It Anyway?]]'' used ''La Linea'' style for seasons 5-9.
* The opening sequence of the UK TV comedy series ''[[Whose Line Is It Anyway? (British TV series)|Whose Line Is It Anyway?]]'' used ''La Linea'' style for seasons 6 to 9, with a "Hollywood" variation of the sequence for season 10.
* In 2005, the video for the [[Jamiroquai]] song "[[(Don't) Give Hate a Chance]]" paid homage to ''La Linea''. The video is an animated commentary on the [[War on Terrorism]] and features 3D representations of the familiar ''La Linea'' character, as well as the animator's hand and pencil.
* In 2005, the video for the [[Jamiroquai]] song "[[(Don't) Give Hate a Chance]]" paid homage to ''La Linea''. The video is an animated commentary on the [[War on Terrorism]] and features 3D representations of the familiar ''La Linea'' character, as well as the animator's hand and pencil.
*[[BabyFirst TV]] uses a ''La Linea'' style animation for the opening and closing animation for their BabyFirst TV FYI segments
*[[BabyFirst TV]] uses a ''La Linea'' style animation for the opening and closing animation for their BabyFirst TV FYI segments
* In October 2012 [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] ran a TV ad campaign for its C-MAX hybrid using ''La Linea''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2012/10/ford-c-max-commercials-launch-with-la-linea-video.html|title=Ford C-MAX Commercials Launch with La Linea| work= AutoGuide.com| publisher= |access-date=2012-11-05}}</ref>
* In October 2012 [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] ran a TV ad campaign for its C-MAX hybrid using ''La Linea''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2012/10/ford-c-max-commercials-launch-with-la-linea-video.html|title=Ford C-MAX Commercials Launch with La Linea| work= AutoGuide.com| publisher= |access-date=2012-11-05}}</ref>
* In late 1990s, Polish telecom [[Polkomtel]] used ''La Linea'' in a TV ad campaign for its prepaid brand SimPlus.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://komorkomat.pl/operatorzy-komorkowi-reklamy/|title=Najlepsze reklamy w polskiej historii GSM| trans-title=Best ads in Polish history of GSM| website= komorkomat.pl| publisher= | access-date=2019-09-13| language=pl}}</ref>
* In late 1990s, Polish telecom [[Polkomtel]] used ''La Linea'' in a TV ad campaign for its prepaid brand SimPlus.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://komorkomat.pl/operatorzy-komorkowi-reklamy/|title=Najlepsze reklamy w polskiej historii GSM| trans-title=Best ads in Polish history of GSM| website= komorkomat.pl|date=18 August 2017 | publisher= | access-date=2019-09-13| language=pl}}</ref>
* Shortly before his death, Cavandoli made some commercials for the Icelandic banking company [[Kaupthing Bank|Kaupthing]] featuring ''La Linea''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=La Línea - Línan|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsUd1Dwzl6U|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=| via= YouTube}}</ref>
* Shortly before his death, Cavandoli made some commercials for the Icelandic banking company [[Kaupthing Bank|Kaupthing]] featuring ''La Linea''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=La Línea - Línan|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsUd1Dwzl6U|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=| via= YouTube}}</ref>
* The ending of the movie ''Pop'n Music'' used the ''La Linea'' style for the credits.
* The ending of the movie ''Pop'n Music'' used the ''La Linea'' style for the credits.
* The 2020 Pixar movie ''[[Soul (2020 film)|Soul]]'' has the soul counselors ("Jerrys"), which were seen by critics as a reference to ''La Linea''.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Zinsli|first=Hans Jürg|date=2020-12-26|title=Seelenwanderungen mit Pixar|language=de|work=Tagesanzeiger|url=https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/seelenwanderungen-mit-pixar-684055517736|url-status=live|access-date=|archive-date=January 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127000206/https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/seelenwanderungen-mit-pixar-684055517736}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Schneider|first=Johannes|date=2020-12-29|title=90 Minuten Trost|language=de|work=Zeit Online|url=https://www.zeit.de/kultur/film/2020-12/soul-film-pixar-rezension-disney-plus-animationsfilm|url-status=live|access-date=|archive-date=December 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230190132/https://www.zeit.de/kultur/film/2020-12/soul-film-pixar-rezension-disney-plus-animationsfilm}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Gombeaud|first=Adrien|date=2020-12-22|title=" Soul " : la belle âme animée de Pixar|language=fr|work=Les Echos|url=https://www.lesechos.fr/weekend/cinema-series/soul-la-belle-ame-animee-de-pixar-1276057|url-status=live|access-date=|archive-date=January 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125124119/https://www.lesechos.fr/weekend/cinema-series/soul-la-belle-ame-animee-de-pixar-1276057}}</ref>
* The 2020 Pixar movie ''[[Soul (2020 film)|Soul]]'' has the soul counselors ("Jerrys"), which were seen by critics as a reference to ''La Linea''.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Zinsli|first=Hans Jürg|date=2020-12-26|title=Seelenwanderungen mit Pixar|language=de|work=[[Tages-Anzeiger]]|url=https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/seelenwanderungen-mit-pixar-684055517736|url-status=live|access-date=|archive-date=January 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127000206/https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/seelenwanderungen-mit-pixar-684055517736}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Schneider|first=Johannes|date=2020-12-29|title=90 Minuten Trost|language=de|work=[[Die Zeit]]|url=https://www.zeit.de/kultur/film/2020-12/soul-film-pixar-rezension-disney-plus-animationsfilm|url-status=live|access-date=|archive-date=December 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230190132/https://www.zeit.de/kultur/film/2020-12/soul-film-pixar-rezension-disney-plus-animationsfilm}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Gombeaud|first=Adrien|date=2020-12-22|title=" Soul " : la belle âme animée de Pixar|language=fr|work=[[Les Echos (France)|Les Echos]]|url=https://www.lesechos.fr/weekend/cinema-series/soul-la-belle-ame-animee-de-pixar-1276057|url-status=live|access-date=|archive-date=January 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125124119/https://www.lesechos.fr/weekend/cinema-series/soul-la-belle-ame-animee-de-pixar-1276057}}</ref>
* In [[Hungary]] it was used in a TV ad Campaign for The bank K&H of The KBC Group.


== Alternative names ==
== Alternative names ==
Line 102: Line 94:
* "Bay Meraklı" (Mr. Curious) and "Çizgi Adam" (Line Man) in [[Turkey]]
* "Bay Meraklı" (Mr. Curious) and "Çizgi Adam" (Line Man) in [[Turkey]]
* "Aghaaye Khat" / "آقای خط" (Mr. Line) in [[Iran]]
* "Aghaaye Khat" / "آقای خط" (Mr. Line) in [[Iran]]
* "Linus på linjen" (Linus on the line) in [[Sweden]]
* "Linus på linjen" (Linus on the line, originally just "Linjen") in [[Sweden]]
* "Linus linjalla" (Linus on the line) in [[Finland]]
* "Linus linjalla" (Linus on the line) in [[Finland]]
* "Linea" or "Badum Badum" in [[Slovenia]]
* "Linea" or "Badum Badum" in [[Slovenia]]
Line 112: Line 104:
* "Stregen" (The Line) in [[Denmark]]
* "Stregen" (The Line) in [[Denmark]]
* "Línan" (The Line) in [[Iceland]]
* "Línan" (The Line) in [[Iceland]]
* "Бајум Бајум" in [[North Macedonia]]
* "Бајум Бајум" in [[North Macedonia|Macedonia]]
* "Барум Барум" / "Barum Barum" or "Абаракандиши Ди Фјури" / "Abarakandiši Di Fjuri" in [[Serbia]]
* "Барум Барум" / "Barum Barum" or "Абаракандиши Ди Фјури" / "Abarakandiši Di Fjuri" in [[Serbia]]
* "Lineman" in the United States
* "Lineman" in the United States
Line 131: Line 123:
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050504190249/http://www.serienoldies.de/main/picture_show.php?id=238&pic_id=1417 Pictures of La Linea] (German site)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050504190249/http://www.serienoldies.de/main/picture_show.php?id=238&pic_id=1417 Pictures of La Linea] (German site)
{{Rai original series}}
{{Rai original series}}
{{Authority Control}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Linea}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Linea}}
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[[Category:1971 Italian television series debuts]]
[[Category:1971 Italian television series debuts]]
[[Category:1986 Italian television series endings]]
[[Category:1986 Italian television series endings]]
[[Category:1980s Italian television series]]
[[Category:1970s Italian television series]]
[[Category:1970s Italian television series]]
[[Category:Italian children's animated comedy television series]]
[[Category:Italian children's animated comedy television series]]
[[Category:RAI original programming]]
[[Category:RAI original programming]]
[[Category:Television shows adapted into comics]]
[[Category:Television shows adapted into comics]]
[[Category:ITV children's television shows]]
[[Category:Channel 4 original programming]]
[[Category:Animated television series without speech]]
[[Category:Animated television series without speech]]

Latest revision as of 09:09, 4 May 2024

La Linea
La Linea
GenreAnimation, Comedy, Cartoon series
Created byOsvaldo Cavandoli (Cava)
Voices ofCarlo Bonomi (all voices)
Theme music composerFranco Godi
Country of originItaly
Original languageGrammelot (gibberish)
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes90
Production
Running time2-6 minutes
Production companiesB. Del Vita (season 1)
HDH Film/TV (season 2)
Telecip-Belokapi (season 2)
Wagner-Hallig Film GmbH (seasons 2-3)
Quipos srl (season 3)
Original release
NetworkRAI
Release1971 (1971) –
1986 (1986)
Related
Carosello

La Linea ("The Line") is an Italian animated series created by the Italian cartoonist Osvaldo Cavandoli. The series consists of 90 episodes, which were originally broadcast on the Italian channel RAI between 1971 and 1986. The background tune for the series was created by Franco Godi.[1]

The series features a man known as "Mr. Linea" (voiced by Carlo Bonomi in a grammelot similar to the Milanese dialect) drawn as a single outline of an infinite line, which encounters various obstacles during his walking, and often turns to the cartoonist, represented as a live-action hand holding a pencil, to draw him a solution. All episodes are short subjects, ranging from 2:30 to 6:40 in runtime.[1]

The series aired in more than 50 countries around the world;[2] due to the short length of episodes, it has often been used in many networks as an interstitial program, including in the United States. Over the years, La Linea gained a widespread popularity worldwide,[1][2][3] and it is considered to be a cult classic.[4] It also spawned a comic strip, books, additional short movies, merchandising gadgets and objects, and countless homages and parodies, with many appearances of the protagonist in other media.[2]

Even though the episodes are numbered up to 225, there are actually 90 La Linea episodes. The 1971 series had 8 episodes, the 1978 series had 56 (101–156), and the 1986 series had 26 (200–225). All episodes of the series are also available on DVD.

Synopsis

[edit]

The cartoon features a man (known as "Mr. Linea") drawn as a single outline around his silhouette, walking on an infinite line of which he is a part. The character encounters obstacles and often turns to the cartoonist, represented as a live-action hand holding a white grease pencil, to draw him a solution, with various degrees of success. One recurring obstacle was an abrupt end of the line. The character would often almost fall off the edge into oblivion and get angry with the cartoonist and complain about it.

Production history

[edit]
Osvaldo Cavandoli

In 1969, Osvaldo Cavandoli proposed his character "Mr. Linea" to some advertising agencies that made films for Carosello. The character pleased the engineer Emilio Lagostina, art collector and owner of the pressure cooker industry Lagostina, who wanted him to be the protagonist of some commercials for his company.[1]

The presentation of the character, initially called Agostino Lagostina (the name was later removed after the first series) was: "Who is Agostino? A lively little man, with a truly expressive nose, with all the concerns and concerns of modern life. Son of a pencil and a hand."[1]

The character was voiced by Carlo Bonomi in a mock version of Milanese that resembled gibberish as much as possible, with occasional Italian or English words, giving the cartoon the possibility to be easily exported without dubbing. The voice resembles Pingu, which was also voiced by Bonomi. The background tune for the series was edited by Franco Godi and Corrado Tringali.[1][5]

The first 8 episodes of the series were created to publicize Lagostina kitchenware products, and the accompanying narration identified Mr. Linea. After the series broke its association with Lagostina, the character became the protagonist of his own television series, which enjoyed huge success worldwide. Over 90 episodes were produced.

International broadcast

[edit]
La Linea graffiti on a feeder pillar in Oslo, Norway (June 2012)

From 1972 on La Linea was shown on numerous TV stations in Europe as well as in cinema, mostly as interstitial between commercials. La Linea was shown in more than 50 countries over the world. The series won prizes 1972 in Annecy and 1973 in Zagreb.

  • In the United States, the La Linea cartoons were first shown as part of KQED's International Animation Festival in the 1970s, and later featured on the children's TV series The Great Space Coaster, although La Linea was given different names by the show's characters before the cartoon was played. Not all La Linea cartoons were featured on the show, as some had a mature theme and were therefore considered inappropriate for children.
  • In Iran, La Linea was aired on Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB)
  • In United Kingdom, La Linea was aired on BBC Two occasionally from 1980 to 1981, and on Central in 1988.
  • In Canada, the La Linea cartoons aired on Radio-Canada, TVJQ [fr] and TVO.
  • In South Africa, it was aired on SABC-TV during the late-1970s and early-1980s as a filler. SABC-TV carried no advertising during shows at the time, and needed to fill gaps, for example before top-of-the-hour news broadcasts.
  • In Australia, La Linea was aired on Australian Broadcasting Corporation as a filler between longer programmes.
  • In the Netherlands, La Linea was aired on VPRO in 1978, 1985 and 1988.
  • In Sweden, La Linea aired on SVT as a filler from the 1970s until the 1990s, and then again as filler on TV4 Guld and TV4 Komedi from 2006 until 2011.
  • In Norway, La Linea aired on NRK as a filler from the mid-1970s until the late-1980s.[6] From 30 June until 31 October 2008, Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet published all episodes of La Linea[7] as daily episodes on its website (La Linea 1–8, 101–156, 200–225).
  • In Hungary, La Linea was first aired on MTV1 on Szombat Esti Filmkoktél (Saturday Night Film Cocktail) from 1981 until the 1990s, and later on MTV2 as an interstitial program.

DVD releases

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A set of three DVDs containing all the episodes was released in Germany in 2003 and re-edited in September 2008. The first volume was released in France, Hungary, Serbia and Scandinavia. A set of two DVDs containing 56 episodes is sold in Quebec since 2008 by Imavision. The complete series was released in Scandinavia in the beginning of 2008 in a 3-disc box set.

Other media

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Comic strip

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Cavandoli also adapted his animated cartoon series into a comic strip, which won many international awards.[8]

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  • The music videos for Italian DJ Gigi D'Agostino's 1999 hit song "Bla Bla Bla" as well as his cover of Nik Kershaw's song "The Riddle" are animated in the style of La Linea.
  • The opening sequence of the UK TV comedy series Whose Line Is It Anyway? used La Linea style for seasons 6 to 9, with a "Hollywood" variation of the sequence for season 10.
  • In 2005, the video for the Jamiroquai song "(Don't) Give Hate a Chance" paid homage to La Linea. The video is an animated commentary on the War on Terrorism and features 3D representations of the familiar La Linea character, as well as the animator's hand and pencil.
  • BabyFirst TV uses a La Linea style animation for the opening and closing animation for their BabyFirst TV FYI segments
  • In October 2012 Ford ran a TV ad campaign for its C-MAX hybrid using La Linea.[9]
  • In late 1990s, Polish telecom Polkomtel used La Linea in a TV ad campaign for its prepaid brand SimPlus.[10]
  • Shortly before his death, Cavandoli made some commercials for the Icelandic banking company Kaupthing featuring La Linea.[11]
  • The ending of the movie Pop'n Music used the La Linea style for the credits.
  • The 2020 Pixar movie Soul has the soul counselors ("Jerrys"), which were seen by critics as a reference to La Linea.[12][13][14]

Alternative names

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The show is known by different names around the world, including:

  • "Bay Meraklı" (Mr. Curious) and "Çizgi Adam" (Line Man) in Turkey
  • "Aghaaye Khat" / "آقای خط" (Mr. Line) in Iran
  • "Linus på linjen" (Linus on the line, originally just "Linjen") in Sweden
  • "Linus linjalla" (Linus on the line) in Finland
  • "Linea" or "Badum Badum" in Slovenia
  • "Balum balum" and sometimes "Złośniczek" in Poland
  • "Menő Manó" (Walking Dwarf or Cool Dwarf) in Hungary
  • "Mar Kav" / "מר קו" (Mr. Line) in Israel
  • "Barum Badum" in Albania and Kosovo
  • "Streken" (The Line) in Norway
  • "Stregen" (The Line) in Denmark
  • "Línan" (The Line) in Iceland
  • "Бајум Бајум" in Macedonia
  • "Барум Барум" / "Barum Barum" or "Абаракандиши Ди Фјури" / "Abarakandiši Di Fjuri" in Serbia
  • "Lineman" in the United States
  • "La Linéa" in France
  • "A Linha" in Brazil
  • "Abelardo" in Argentina
  • "La ligne" in Québec, Canada
  • "Bajum Badum" in Croatia
  • "Μπαρούμ Μπαρούμ" - Barúm Barúm in Greece
  • "AlSeyed Khat" / "السيد خط" (Mr. Line) in Saudi Arabia
  • "Xiàntiáo xiānshēng" / "線條先生" (Mr. Line) in China

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "La Linea del grande Osvaldo Cavandoli". Webalice (in Italian).
  2. ^ a b c "La Linea". Licensing Italia (in Italian).
  3. ^ "Watch La Linea, the Popular 1970s Italian Animations Drawn with a Single Line". Open Culture.com. 10 April 2015.
  4. ^ Michele Serra. "La Linea di Osvaldo Cavandoli simbolo dell'Italia del boom". La Repubblica (in Italian).
  5. ^ Filippo Mazzarella (30 October 2008). "Un jazz euforico per la Linea di Cavandoli". Corriere della Sera (in Italian).
  6. ^ https://www.abcnyheter.no/nyheter/2006/03/21/34601/husker-du-streken
  7. ^ "Streken". Dagbladet.no. Archived from the original on 2011-06-05. Retrieved 2011-03-31.
  8. ^ "Osvaldo Cavandoli". lambiek.net.
  9. ^ "Ford C-MAX Commercials Launch with La Linea". AutoGuide.com. Retrieved 2012-11-05.
  10. ^ "Najlepsze reklamy w polskiej historii GSM" [Best ads in Polish history of GSM]. komorkomat.pl (in Polish). 18 August 2017. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
  11. ^ "La Línea - Línan" – via YouTube.
  12. ^ Zinsli, Hans Jürg (2020-12-26). "Seelenwanderungen mit Pixar". Tages-Anzeiger (in German). Archived from the original on January 27, 2021.
  13. ^ Schneider, Johannes (2020-12-29). "90 Minuten Trost". Die Zeit (in German). Archived from the original on December 30, 2020.
  14. ^ Gombeaud, Adrien (2020-12-22). "" Soul " : la belle âme animée de Pixar". Les Echos (in French). Archived from the original on January 25, 2021.
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